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Gehrig jersey and HOF bats look to fuel Heritage s

Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division will present a wide array of vintage sports memorabilia and trading cards in its upcoming Signature Auction to be held Oct. 26-27 in Dallas.

“While this auction is packed with many spectacular pieces, there are three in particular that should draw the attention of baseball collectors,” explained Chris Ivy, director of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division. “A road gray New York Yankees jersey worn in the early 1930s by Lou Gehrig is one of the few known to exist today, and game-used bats from Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb are considered by top experts to be among the very finest in existence.

“Hall of Fame jerseys and equipment have flooded our offices for this sale,” Ivy noted. “We have baseball jerseys from Hank Aaron and Bob Gibson, basketball jerseys from Pete Maravich and Nate Archibald, football jerseys from Roger Staubach and Gale Sayers and hockey jerseys from Ray Bourque and Wayne Gretzky. Even golf fans are recognized with the bag that carried Tiger Woods’ clubs during his historic 1997 Masters win. This barely scratches the surface.

“Autograph collectors should find plenty to love, as well,” said Ivy. “An oversized photo signed for the Yankees bat boy in 1927 by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig is just extraordinary. And a 1941 Puerto Rican League baseball contract provides one of the few authentic Josh Gibson autographs known to the hobby. Other exceedingly scarce signatures provided within this auction include Amos Rusie and Howie Morenz.” Heritage is also offering some notable trophies and awards.

“We’re fortunate to have two Rookie of the Year awards,” said Ivy, referring to the awards presented to Jim Brown and Pete Rose. “We also have the plaque awarded to Wilt Chamberlain in recognition of being named the 1965-66 NBA Player of the Year.”

Heritage will present a new bidding format for the trading card portion of the auction, which will end on Oct. 26 in an extended bidding format. Each lot will close individually after 30 minutes of bidding inactivity following the 11 p.m. CST cut-off. Featured within this first session of the auction is an offering of high-grade single cards, complete sets and sheets.

“There are so many card lots within this auction that it’s tough to know where to start,” said Ivy. “One obvious theme is high-grade complete sets, with examples of 1933 Goudey, 1952 Small Bowman Football, 1957 Topps Baseball and 1959 Fleer Ted Williams.

“Singles collectors will have no shortage of options either,” Ivy continued. “The offerings run from the spectacularly rare to the finest known. There’s tobacco, candy, gum and everything in between.

“Two sheets should really stun the collecting world, too,” Ivy noted. “A compilation of 10 strips form a 1953 Topps Baseball sheet, and a 1968 Topps 3-D Baseball example includes cards that never made it into packs." For more information on Heritage’s October Signature sale visit HA.com.